The McGill Group for Suicide Studies (MGSS) has been conducting extensive work investigating clinical and behavioural factors increasing risk for suicidal behaviours. To do so, it has been primarily using the following methodologies:
Psychological autopsy studies
Psychological autopsy studies are proxy-based interviews that assess clinical, developmental, psychological and social aspects of a third party. These structured interviews are perfectly suited to investigate people who have already passed away, and as such, they have been used in suicide research for many years.
Researchers: Gustavo Turecki, Johanne Renaud, Monique Séguin
Prospective cohort studies
The MGSS has been conducting a series of studies in epidemiologically representative samples followed up since kindergarten in collaboration with the GRIP. These studies have been aiming to better understand the development of suicidal behaviour, as well as its clinical and behavioural correlates.
Researchers: Marie-Claude Geoffroy, Gustavo Turecki
Family studies
Family studies use the family unit to investigate factors cosegregating with suicidal behaviour. They can be used to address different questions, such as recurrence rates in relatives, estimates of patterns of transmission, phenotypic characterizations, etc.
Researchers: Gustavo Turecki, Monique Séguin
Clinical population studies
The Depressive Disorders Program (DPP) is the clinical arm of the MGSS. Through the DDP, we have been conducting a series of studies focusing on clinical populations, particularly on patients with severe major depressive disorder. These studies are broad in scope, having different types of goals and using different methodologies.
Researchers: Marcelo Berlim, Fabrice Jollant, Stéphane Richard-Devantoy, Gustavo Turecki